Boletín de aludes

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Thu
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
1 · Débil
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 5 months ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

Triggering a wet snow avalanche remains possible on sunny slopes, especially later in the day when the snow surface becomes moist. Avoid traveling in areas where you sink into a mushy, wet snowpack to keep out of harm's way. On colder, shadier slopes with wind-affected surfaces, triggering a large slab avalanche is also possible.

Problemas de aludes

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–2

    Two varieties of wet snow avalanches are possible on steep, wind-sheltered slopes once surface crusts turn mushy:

    1. Wet Loose:  These avalanches are most likely during the heat of the day on slopes that face the sun. They often initiate near the bases of trees, rocks, and cliffs. Although slow-moving, these avalanches are surprisingly powerful and difficult to escape. They may also trigger larger wet slab avalanches (example) as they move downhill.
    2. Wet Slab: These large avalanches are unpredictable. They release as buried weak layers become wet. We anticipate these avalanches to break 1-4 feet thick, creating a dangerous, likely unsurvivable avalanche. They can break widely and without warning. The only way to reduce your risk is to avoid traveling on or under steep slopes. 

    Additional Discussion - Cornices: Avoid large, overhanging cornices. The heat will cause these to sag and break. Scary in their own right, they also serve as excellent triggers for the two wet avalanche concerns described above. 

    (3/22/2026)

    This wet slab avalanche released naturally just east of Easley Peak in the Boulder Mtns. SE aspect near 10,500' - unknown release date or time. 

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1.5–2

    Triggering a 1-3 ft thick persistent slab avalanche on buried weak layers (sugary facets, surface hoar, and crust + facet combinations) is still possible. This problem is worst on wind-loaded middle and upper elevation slopes facing NW-N-NE-E. Dry or wet, these are the aspects where you're most likely to trigger a large slab avalanche.

    Look for smooth snow pillows, dunes, textured snow surfaces, and cornices as indicators of wind-stiffened snow. You may not see obvious signs of instability, such as snowpack cracking and collapsing, before triggering a slide. 

    (3/17/2026) A pair of large natural slab avalanches that failed on weak sugary facets buried 2 feet below the surface. N aspect @ 8300'. These probably occurred over the March 14/15 weekend.

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Expect to find a refrozen snow surface this morning if you head into the mountains, but don’t bank on it remaining frozen all day. If you’re entering steeper terrain, be mindful of terrain traps as the snow surface softens. While most natural wet-loose avalanche activity has already occurred, it’s still possible to trigger a slide that could knock you off your feet and carry you into hazardous terrain.

In previous days, cooler temperatures slowed the meltwater production at the surface of the snowpack, but they haven't stopped the movement of water within the snowpack. Wet slabs are unpredictable and can occur days after a warm-up, leaving us with some unknowns. We haven't seen widespread evidence of wet slab avalanches, but that doesn't mean we are out of the woods yet, and natural or human-triggered avalanches aren't totally out of the question.

To reduce your risk of triggering a large wet snow avalanche, plan to start and end your day early before the upper snowpack becomes wet and unsupportable.

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